Science a girl's game: national challenge to inspire new generation of experts

Anyone who walked past the hall where the Science and Engineering Challenge was being held may mistake the activities inside for a heated basketball game. The national high school final at Southern Cross University proves these are no longer subjects just for geeks, and that the formerly male-dominated field is becoming more popular among female students.

Isobel Memeo, Gaganpreet Gill, Rose Jenkins and Chloe Williams from all girl's school Mount Carmel College in Hobart taking part in the Science and Engineering Challenge National Final. (ABC Local:Margaret Burin)

Isobel Memeo aspires to be a civil engineer.

It's not your typical career aspiration for a teenage girl, but for the Hobart student, it is a natural pathway.

"I like definite answers," she said.

Isobel has been taking part in the Science and Engineering Challenge, which has concluded with the best year 10 classes from around the country competing in a final in Lismore.

The initiative was designed to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Challenges included hands-on activities such as building a small bridge tested for strength and load carrying capacity.

A report from the Office of the Chief Scientist in July emphasised the growing importance of investment in science, technology, engineering and maths for Australia to stay productive and globally competitive in the technology era.

Part of that is encouraging young women to enter a male-heavy field.

It's something that is being pushed by one of Australia's top scientists.

In his acceptance speech, he talked about the need for gender balance in the science workforce.

He told the ABC's AM program he will donate some of his $300,000 prize towards getting more women into the field and retaining them.

"There's lots of barriers - some artificial, some are attitudes - so trying to get more inclusive, trying to remove barriers, trying to make it easier for example with childcare on site, that's one of our goals," he said.

Students at the science and engineering challenge said the subjects are growing in popularity among girls.

Lismore High School's Chloe Jeffery said despite common stereotypes, science is not seen as a subject for nerds.

"From my school, most of the girls in my year are doing at least one science subject next year in the senior year, so it's become quite popular."

St Columba Anglican School from Port Macquarie won first place in the national final, followed by Grenfell's Henry Lawson High School and the all girls school Mount Carmel College from Tasmania.